Last Call For The Battle Of New Orleans

Former New Orleans Democratic Mayor Ray Nagin has been convicted on 20 of 21 corruption and bribery counts stemming from taking money during the Katrina rebuilding effort, and most likely he's going to be spending a very, very long time in prison.

Prosecutors argued the 57-year-old Nagin was at the center of a kickback scheme in which he received checks, cash, wire transfers, personal services and free travel from businessmen seeking contracts and favorable treatment from the city. He faces up to 20 years in prison, but Fanning said a 14- to 17-year term was more likely.

A January 2013 indictment detailed more than $200,000 in bribes to the mayor, and his family members allegedly received a vacation in Hawaii; first-class airfare to Jamaica; private jet travel and a limousine for New York City; and cellular phone service. In exchange, businesses that coughed up for Nagin and his family won more than $5 million in city contracts, according to the January 2013 indictment.

During the two-week trial, prosecutors brought to the stand a string of businessmen who had already pleaded guilty to bribing Nagin. His defense did little to challenge their stories, Fanning said.

"It was too painful actually to watch. They just swamped him," he said. And when Nagin took the stand in his own defense, "He did a belly flop," often answering questions on cross-examination by saying he couldn't recall who paid for a trip or perk.

"He just looked terrible," Fanning said.

Some of the charges however were from before Katrina, meaning that Nagin probably would have ended up crooked Katrina or not.

It's sad to see Nagin go down like this, but the guy is clearly a crook as was for years.  New Orleans deserved better.